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NCAAF Picks

College Football Picks: NCAAF Offensive Power Rankings

Sports bettors often fall in love with a team that scores a lot of points, which leads to plenty of action coming in on the OVER in terms of betting totals.

Let’s take a closer look at the offensive power rankings of five
teams that should light up the scoreboard for our NCAAF picks throughout the 2013 college football
season.

1. Oregon Ducks

Oregon scored 645 points in 13 games a year ago, but many
college football handicappers are expecting a drop off from that number due to
the departure of former head coach Chip Kelly to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mark Helfrich has played a role with offenses that have ranked
among the nation’s top-eight teams in scoring offense six times in the last 13
seasons, as the former offensive coordinator takes over the top spot on the
sidelines.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota earned Pac-12 Conference Offensive
Freshman of the Year honors in 2012, as he threw for 2,677 yards and gained
another 752 on the ground.

The Ducks also possess one of the more dynamic players in
college football, with De’Anthony Thomas expected to get plenty of touches now
that LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner have departed to the professional ranks
the last two years.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia won 12 games for the third time in school history last
season, with quarterback Aaron Murray becoming the first player in Southeastern
Conference history to pass for over 3,000 yards in three straight seasons.

Murray and Co. out-gained opponents by a 468-358 average, as the
offensive unit put up 40 or more points in seven of 14 games.

Running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall combined to gain
2,144 yards on the ground—causing fans to come up with the nickname “Gurshall”
for the talented duo.

3. Clemson Tigers

Clemson won 11 games for the first time since 1981, and a lot of
that success is due to an explosive offense that’s led by quarterback Tajh
Boyd, who threw for 36 touchdown passes in 2012.

The Tigers set an ACC record by scoring 37 or more points in 10
consecutive games, which played a major part in winning seven-straight games by
14 or more points.

Offensively, the team led the nation in scoring percentage in
the red zone at 94.9 percent, while it ranked first in the conference in total
offense by averaging 512.7 yards per game.

Boyd has a major weapon downfield in wide receiver Sammy
Watkins, who is one of the fastest players in college football.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M was expected to score more points with Kevin
Sumlin on the sidelines, as the head coach was known for putting together some
of the more explosive offenses in football during his time with the Houston
Cougars.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel put together a
magical season, which included handing the Alabama Crimson Tide their only loss
in 2012, while becoming the first SEC player, first freshman and fifth NCAA FBS
player to post 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.

Manziel will be protected by one of the nation’s top offensive
lines—even with the departure of first round pick Luke Joeckel to the NFL.

5. Marshall Thundering Herd

The first four teams on this list are members of BCS
conferences, but the betting public better take a look at Marshall, as
quarterback Rakeem Cato completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 4,201 yards a
season ago.

The Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year will have his
top target back this season, as Tommy Shuler caught 110 passes for 1,138 yards
and six touchdowns in 2012.

Plenty of talent is found at the skilled positions, but opposing
defenses might focus more on the offensive line—a group that returns nine of
its top 10 players.